: Recent Events

Whenever people ask me for martial art book recommendations I put “My Journey with the Grandmaster” in my top three. If they are a karate person specifically I yell at them for not owning it already, then order them to acquire it. Sometimes, sadly, the book is out of print and the only way to acquire a copy is through grossly overpriced used versions on Amazon. I know for a fact that Bill Hayes Sensei hates to see that happen, so he has decided to run a new printing of the book. This is a key opportunity for anyone who has been meaning to pick the book up but couldn’t get a copy thus far.

I’d like to tell you a little about what the book is and how to reserve a copy for yourself.

What is “My Journey with the Grandmaster”?

During the Vietnam Era Bill Hayes Sensei had the opportunity to spend multiple tours on Okinawa. While there he studied under one of the true great luminaries of karate, Shimabukuro Eizo Sensei. Shimabukuro Sensei was/is a Shorin Ryu practitioner of unique skill, carrying on the traditions of not only Kyan Chotoku but also Miyagi Chojun, Motobu Choki, Itosu Anko, and more. Through dedication and talent Bill Hayes Sensei was able to become one of Shimabukuro Sensei’s most senior students.

To capture some of his experiences for the benefit of his own students, Hayes Sensei decided to chronicle his thoughts and philosophies in “My Journey with the Grandmaster”. For a little more detail I’ll let Hayes Sensei explain it himself!

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Limited Run – Reserve a Copy!

Hayes Sensei only produces a printing of the book every couple of years, so if you miss a chance to secure a copy you might be left waiting for awhile.

At this time Hayes Sensei isn’t accepting live payments as the book has not been printed yet. However, he is accepting reservations so as to get a better idea of how many to print. To make your reservation, print out the pdf featured in the link below and send it to Hayes Sensei’s physical address (included in the pdf). Conversely, use the online order form I have attached to this blog post. Your reservation information will go directly to Hayes Sensei.

I don’t always create posts about training events I attend, but sometimes I feel they are big enough in scope that other martial artists would enjoy hearing about them. This year’s event held by the International Karate Kobudo Federation definitely qualifies. Senior instructors from multiple styles got together and shared with students in a spirit of open learning.

2014 marked the 30th Anniversary of the IKKF Annual Training. Since its inception, the gathering has operated in the spirit of Old Okinawa. Many folks believe that the modern mindset of karate mirrors that of generations past, but that is not the case. Going back just 2-3 generations Okinawa was home to much sharing and mutual testing of karate technique. The development of “ryu” is a fairly modern invention, and the idea that one ryu should never mingle with another is an even more recent phenomenon.

Observe the pictures below:

1964 Gathering on Okinawa

2014 IKKF Gathering in Pennsylvania

Featured in this photo:

Featured in this photo:

Isshin Ryu
Shimabukuro Tatsuo
Uezu Angi
Shimabukuro Kichiro

Isshin Ryu
Nick Adler
Marylin Fierro

Shorin Ryu
Shimabukuro Eizo

Shorin Ryu
Bill Hayes

Okinawa Kenpo
Nakamura Shigeru
Oyata Seiyu

Okinawa Kenpo
Bruce Heilman
Ann Marie Heilman

Seidokan
Toma Shian

Seidokan
Jody Paul

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If you compare the old photo with the new you will notice a lot of direct Teacher->Student connections. Individuals like Nick Adler, Bill Hayes, Jody Paul, Larry Isaac, etc. are carrying on the traditions handed down to them. There used to be an Okinawa mindset of preserving the core fundamentals of a style while enhancing aspects of the art through exposure to teachers of particularly high skill in one area or another. It was a mindset built on developing effective life protection and is as important a tradition to preserve as any technique or kata.

Training Moments

The weekend’s event was broken up into a series of training time slots with multiple sessions going on during each time slot. Sometimes the sessions were formally established in terms of content while at other times small groups broke in and out of each other, generating a sort of training soup. In the end students were exposed to ideas they didn’t know they needed as well as content they specifically came to find.

The following are some moments caught in action:

Jody Paul, Sensei, beginning to demonstrate the footwork of Motobu Udundi. This is critical for understanding one of Okinawa’s oldest preserved martial systems.

Kama kata led by Dan Rupert, Sensei, and Doug Hoover, Sensei. No mats were harmed by dropped kama.

A number of other topics were covered throughout the three day event, including Brazilian Jujitsu, weapon disarms, empty hand kata, and more.

Kobudo Demonstrations

On Friday evening I had the opportunity to demonstrate some weapons and empty hand kata and concepts for the group. The following video is a small collection of moments from that demonstration, including Bo kata, Eiku Kata, Kama Kata, and Kama Bunkai.

Final Thoughts

Despite the carpets that were a little past their design prime, the Inn at Reading proved to be an ample host for the weekend’s event. The floor space allowed for any and all weapons while the banquet setup (also on-site) provided an elegant atmosphere. All-in-all it was a memorable event and I hope we can build on it next year. Perhaps some of you reading can join us in the festivities!

From time to time I get the opportunity to meet owners and operators of martial arts related businesses. If the business provides a high quality and relevant service that I think would benefit my readers I discuss the possibility of a partnership with them. This is one of those occasions. “Swords of the East” is one of the most popular and expansive weapons retailers on the web. Their stock is so extensive that it would take multiple visits just to see everything they have to offer.

Let me tell you about why I welcome them as part of my site and why I think they are worth checking out.

What “Swords of the East” Has to Offer

It’s tough for me to encapsulate all the different kinds of swords SOTE has available, but here are a few of the most important and most interesting branches of the site:

Katana – The backbone of SOTE is katana, no doubt about it. The designs and styles vary widely, and the list of different makers is extensive (Paul Chen, Rittersteel, Ryumon Swords, Ten Ryu, etc etc). The quality ranges from inexpensive display pieces to high end, high carbon works of art.

Iaito Training Swords – Most iaido students begin their training with Iaito (unsharpened swords) rather than Shinken (sharpened swords). Iaito are specifically designed to handle repeated drawing/sheathing as well as avoid common rusting problems associated with high carbon blades.

Full Armor Sets – To me personally this is the most exciting offering on the site. These full Japanese armor sets are absolutely beautiful. These are not cheap replicas – they are functional, wearable, and displayable. Browse these. you won’t be disappointed.

Medieval, Historical, and Fantasy Swords – If you’re a collector of creative blades these offerings are for you. The styles vary widely from military, to historical, to movie prop. Many of the blades are functional while some are purely for adornment of walls.

There’s a lot more but I thought those specific branches might interest you. While many other websites offer swords and weapons, no other resource contains the breadth of product available here. Sword enthusiasts of all budgets will find something appealing to them, from $50 show pieces to $2000 shinken.

Special Discount Code for IkigaiWay Readers

SOTE would like to extend a special offer to all readers. After you’ve selected your products enter the coupon code “OFF10NOW” (no quotations) during the checkout process for 10% off your total order.